The launch of the RBS Six Nations Championship can be a cagey affair but, for Scotland's interim coach Scott Johnson, the opportunity for a little pre-tournament fun was too good to miss. All it took was a mention of England, the Scots' first opponents next week, and he was off. "We're the sad kids from the north, we haven't got many rugby teams, a small population base. We don't have much of a chance, do we?"

There was plenty more, much of it delivered with tongue so firmly in cheek it was impressive he could talk at all. "The beauty of coaching Scotland, Wales or Australia is there's an underlying will to ruin a party at Twickenham. I'm enjoying the prospect of going there with the same mindset. Some are saying we've no chance but maybe we're saying something different to ourselves." If his team turn up with the same breezy, confrontational mindset on Saturday week, England may yet have a real fight on their hands.

Johnson also expressed scant sympathy for the England management as they wrestle with a clutch of injury problems. Manu Tuilagi remains a doubt with an ankle problem, the Exeter flanker Tom Johnson will miss the entire championship with knee ligament damage, Alex Corbisiero underwent a clean-out operation on his troublesome knee on Wednesdayand Gloucester's Freddie Burns will miss the games against Scotland and Ireland because of yet another strained knee.

It is fair to say, with a Calcutta Cup showdown fast approaching, that disappointment north of Hadrian's Wall is strictly rationed. "That just leaves them with another 40,000 players to pick from, doesn't it?" retorted Johnson. "That's a sad story. You keep writing it. Scotland never get injuries. It's never happened." Not since Mel Gibson took the lead role in Braveheart has an Australian sounded so keen to stick it to the Sassenachs.

That is not always good news in this fixture – "If we come down all fire and brimstone, I'd imagine we'll get stuffed," observed the Scotland flanker Kelly Brown – but it did neatly reflect just how competitive this season's tournament is certain to be. Italy's captain, Sergio Parisse, suggested his side were looking to win at least two games, Wales are desperate to bounce back from a poor autumn and mount a strong defence of their title, while Ireland's new captain, Jamie Heaslip, was almost bouncing off the ceiling with excitement at the prospect of leading his country.

England's head coach, Stuart Lancaster, was rather more measured, as one might expect given the need to dampen down public expectations raised by the spectacular win over New Zealand. Snow in Leeds, where England are currently based, has been an issue this week and the question of the best midfield blend to face the Scots is also up in the air.

The Leicester centre Tuilagi was withdrawn from his team's crucial Heineken Cup game against Toulouse last Sunday and England are keen to make an early call. "I need a decision to be made early, by the weekend preferably, because if Manu is not available there will be decisions to be made," said Lancaster.

Gloucester's uncapped Billy Twelvetrees at 12 alongside Brad Barritt is one option but Jonathan Joseph and Toby Flood are alternative solutions, with Owen Farrell more likely to remain at fly-half. Saracens's Alex Goode, meanwhile, will be asked to prove his fitness for his club this weekend after a shoulder problem. If he comes through fine, he will be competing with Mike Brown and the fit-again Ben Foden for the No15 jersey.

As for France, their coach, Philippe Saint-André, was most concerned about speculation that the Six Nations may one day consider introducing bonus points. "We would lose the spirit of the Six Nations if one team won all five their games and didn't win the title because of bonus points.

"If I was the coach of a side which won the title ahead of another team who had won all five games, I would feel bad. It's not a two-year-old competition. It's 100 years of history. Maybe people say I'm too old school but bonus points in the international game, no. All the Tests in the autumn were quality rugby. Do we need more? I'm not sure."

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